Sociolect & Idiolect

Language & Identity
Social Context
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Slide 1: Tekstslide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolvwoLeerjaar 4

In deze les zitten 23 slides, met interactieve quizzen, tekstslides en 3 videos.

Onderdelen in deze les

Language & Identity
Social Context

Slide 1 - Tekstslide

Slide 2 - Link

Slide 3 - Link

Slide 4 - Video

Social Context
Even in the most egalitarian societies, one has a sense of social class and the linguistic features that are associated with these classes. In George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, the main character claims he can turn a 'flower girl' into a 'duchess', by teaching how to speak 'properly'.

Slide 5 - Tekstslide

Discuss in your group:
  •  Is your social class defined by how you speak? 
  • Or is your speech a reflection of your class? 
  • How is your use of language an indication of the social groups to which you belong? 
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Slide 6 - Tekstslide

Slide 7 - Tekstslide

Idiolect & Sociolect
Every individual has a unique way of speaking and writing, known as an 'idiolect'. As described last week, one's linguistic identity is comprised of several factors, such as profession, social class, family, gender and age. Every individual also has a way of speaking that marks him or her as a member of a group, known as a 'sociolect'. These linguistic 'markers' are sometimes very specific to smaller groups or very typical of larger groups. They can be used, consciously or subconsciously, to show one's allegiance to a group. 
For example, someone from Newcastle may use the word "yous" for the second person plural instead of the Standard British English "you". This linguistic marker would typify them as a speaker of Geordie. Not everyone from Newcastle speaks Geordie, however, which is why Geordie may be considered a kind of dialect known as a 'sociolect'. 

Slide 8 - Tekstslide

Slang
Slang is a kind of linguistic marker that identifies one as a member of a social group. Slang words might be considered 'non-standard', falling outside the realm of 'standard' register. Slang is a way of dividing up speakers into 'insiders' and 'outsiders', as some people will know what is meant by certain words, and other people will not know what is meant by certain words. For example, a word such as 'dope' might be used by rappers to mean 'great' or 'cool'. Speakers who are not familiar with rap culture will miss this meaning. In the extract from movie Airplane ("I speak Jive"), the sociolect 'Jive' is depicted as a completely different language, which is not comprehensible to mainstream speakers of English. 

Slide 9 - Tekstslide

Slide 10 - Video

Slide 11 - Tekstslide

Jargon
When a golfer speaks of a 'bird', he is not referring to a flying animal. When doctor refers to 'BP', she is not referring to British Petroleum, but 'blood pressure'. In brief, certain language is limited to the domains of certain professions, sports or religious contexts. Such language that belongs to such domains is known as 'jargon'. 


Slide 12 - Tekstslide

Code Switching
The humour in the extract from Airplane, "I speak Jive", has to do with the older woman who speaks 'Jive' as if it were a second language. She does not appear to be a member of the social group that usually speaks 'Jive'. In fact the language of the African-American passengers in this movie is more commonly referred to as African American Vernacular English (AAVE), which can be considered a widely spoken sociolect in the United States (by both blacks and whites). Many speakers of AAVE also speak Standard American English and have the ability to switch between language varieties. This phenomenon switching between varieties is known as 'code switching'. 

Slide 13 - Tekstslide

Diglossia
In some languages, such as Arabic, there is a higher form of language that is used for official, religious contexts and a lower form of language used for other informal contexts. This phenomenon of a 'high' and 'low' language is known as 'diglossia'. While diglossia does not exist in 
Informal (Anglo-saxon based) Formal (latin based). 

Slide 14 - Tekstslide

Slide 15 - Video

Slide 16 - Link

Pick one of the slang words from the song: What is the effect of using this word? How does this use of vocabulary help construct his identity?

Slide 17 - Open vraag

Pick one of the slang words from the song: What is the effect of using this word? How does this use of vocabulary help construct his identity?

Slide 18 - Open vraag

From what kind of 'culture' does Big L come? What makes you say this?

Slide 19 - Open vraag

Generally speaking, why do people use slang? More specifically, why does Big L use slang?

Slide 20 - Open vraag

Discuss
Is the extract from Planes ('I speak Jive') offensive to African Americans? Watch the extract and comment on the way in which the older white woman uses language. Can you follow what she and the African Americans say exactly? Is this extract funny? 

Slide 21 - Tekstslide

In your notes make a summary using the terms: 
Linguistic marker
Sociolect
Idiolect
Slang
Jargon
Diglossia
Code switching

Slide 22 - Tekstslide

Slide 23 - Tekstslide